Filling machine and method of operating the same

Abstract

A filling machine (100) is disclosed having a processing unit (600) including a processing station (612, 614, 616) and a conveyor system (601) configured for conveying container precursors through processing station. The conveyor system has comprising a plurality of shuttles or carriers (602) configured for carrying the container precursors along a track (604) through the processing station and a shuttle propulsion system allowing each shuttle to be individually propelled along the track. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filling machine comprising a processing unit comprising at least one processing station and a conveyor system configured for conveying container precursors through the at least one processing station, the conveyor system comprising a plurality of first shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a first track through the at least one processing station and a first shuttle propulsion system allowing each first shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the first track,
 the filling machine comprising a container precursor forming unit configured for forming bottom-sealed container precursors, and a transfer unit configured for transferring the bottom-sealed container precursors from the forming unit to the processing unit, the transfer unit comprising a plurality of second shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a second track from the forming unit to the processing unit and a second shuttle propulsion system allowing each second shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the second track,   the transfer unit comprising a transfer station configured to receive the second shuttles or carriers in single file and transfer the container pre-cursors to the first shuttles or carriers in the processing unit in two or more parallel processing lanes.   
     
     
         2 . The filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first shuttle propulsion system comprises an electric long-stator linear motor configured for individually propelling each first shuttle or carrier along the first track. 
     
     
         3 . The filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each first shuttle or carrier comprises a single holder or receptacle for carrying a container precursor or a plurality of holders or receptacles configured for carrying a plurality of container precursors through the at least one processing station in parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing station comprising at least one of:
 a bottom-sealing station configured for bottom-sealing container precursors;   a sterilizing station configured for sterilizing the container precursors:   a filling station configured for filling the container precursors with a pourable foodstuff: and   a top-sealing station configured for top-sealing the container precursors.   
     
     
         5 . The filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second shuttle propulsion system comprises an electric long-stator linear motor configured for individually propelling each second shuttle or carrier along said second track. 
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a filling machine comprising: a container precursor forming unit configured for forming bottom-sealed container precursors; a processing unit comprising at least one processing station for processing the container precursors; a conveyor system configured for conveying container precursors through the at least one processing station, the conveyor system comprising a plurality of first shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a first track through the at least one processing station and a first shuttle propulsion system allowing each first shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the first track; and a transfer unit configured for transferring the bottom-sealed container precursors from the forming unit to the processing unit, the transfer unit comprising a plurality of second shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a second track from the forming unit to the processing unit and a second shuttle propulsion system allowing each second shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the second track, characterised by the second shuttles or carriers being received in the transfer station in single file and the container precursors being transferred to the processing unit in two or more parallel processing lanes, and by the container precursors being conveyed through the least one processing station in the first shuttles or carriers traveling along the first track. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , characterised by conveying the container precursors through a first of said at least one processing stations in a first index and conveying the container precursors through a second of said at least one processing stations in a second index being different from the first index. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to any one of  claim 6 or 7 , characterised by the distance between adjacent first shuttles or carriers being non-constant as the shuttles or carriers travel through the processing unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , characterised by the distance between adjacent first shuttles or carriers being extended when the shuttles or carriers travel through a filling station of said processing unit.